DUI suspect accused of kicking, spitting on deputies

Staff Report

Published: Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 1:57 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 2:01 p.m.

OCALA - A 27-year-old Summerfield man who was pulled over by a sheriff's deputy for driving carelessly on the roadway was charged with DUI and two counts of battery on law enforcement officials after he reportedly kicked and spat on deputies.

At about 11:21 p.m. Friday, someone called the Marion County Sheriff's Office to report that a driver of a blue minivan almost caused a head-on collision. The caller said the van was all over the roadway and even the wrong side of the road.

A deputy stopped the van on Southeast 66th Street. The deputy told the driver - Kevin J. Whitmer - to step out the vehicle, and once he did, got permission to perform a field sobriety exercise, according to a Sheriff's Office report.

Whitmer reportedly failed the test and was taken to the Marion County Jail. On the way to jail, the report says Whitmer repeatedly banged his head against the cage.

The deputy stopped in the 800 block of Southeast Baseline Road and called for assistance. The second deputy reportedly was restraining him when Whitmer kicked the deputy several times in the ribs.

At the jail, it took several correctional officers to restrain Whitmer, and officials said Whitmer spat on a deputy as the deputy tried to get permission for a breath test.

<p>OCALA - A 27-year-old Summerfield man who was pulled over by a sheriff's deputy for driving carelessly on the roadway was charged with DUI and two counts of battery on law enforcement officials after he reportedly kicked and spat on deputies.</p><p>At about 11:21 p.m. Friday, someone called the Marion County Sheriff's Office to report that a driver of a blue minivan almost caused a head-on collision. The caller said the van was all over the roadway and even the wrong side of the road.</p><p>A deputy stopped the van on Southeast 66th Street. The deputy told the driver - Kevin J. Whitmer - to step out the vehicle, and once he did, got permission to perform a field sobriety exercise, according to a Sheriff's Office report.</p><p>Whitmer reportedly failed the test and was taken to the Marion County Jail. On the way to jail, the report says Whitmer repeatedly banged his head against the cage.</p><p>The deputy stopped in the 800 block of Southeast Baseline Road and called for assistance. The second deputy reportedly was restraining him when Whitmer kicked the deputy several times in the ribs.</p><p>At the jail, it took several correctional officers to restrain Whitmer, and officials said Whitmer spat on a deputy as the deputy tried to get permission for a breath test.</p><p><i>- Austin L. Miller</i></p>